Child at the gym

[CosyScentedCandles]

I go to a local leisure centre gym 4-5 times a week. Because it is only a leisure centre, I accept that it has to be available to meet a range of needs and part of that is that they allow kids from 15 to use the gym at specific times. This doesn’t bother me, I generally avoid the teen-gym slots and if I don’t it is usually one harmless 16 year old girl using a cross trainer.

What is really winding me up is that there is a woman who seems to regularly sneak her 10-11yo in with her so that she can work out. She plonks him on a machine or a bench and he proceeds too much about with the equipment, preventing somebody else from using it properly. Apart from the fact he his taking up room in what is a small gym, AIBU to think that some places are simply not appropriate for children and to want some time in an adults only space?

I feel like I want to complain but I don’t know 🤷🏼‍♀️

The gym I can go to allows children 10+ at all times if supervised by parent/ guardian. They also gave specific times for 11-15s every evening where they can be left and supervised by the gym staff. All members, children included have an induction on joining.

God if my gym let 11 years olds in I’d find a new gym.
In this case why do kids have to be EVERYWHERE just because it’s more convenient for their dipshit parents? I would be raising this with the manager. So fucking annoying. As is all the nonsense whatabout-ery from some posters? Who cares if she can’t afford childcare? Why is that anyone else’s problem? Gah.

Who know that paid-for gym membership was the only way to teach young kids about health and fitness?!

I think you need to get your husband to change his behaviour. What a selfish man.

I didn’t go to the gym when my kids were young. Did workouts at home. My husband went for runs. It worked out ok.

The lad is too young to be there and shouldn't be messing around with equipment. The gym probably isnt insured to accommodate kids under a certain age(this gyms lower limit being age 15)if something happens to him on their equipment they could end up losing their licence. Regardless of her childcare issues if thats the reason to take him maybe she should go while her child is in school so she can use the gym without the hassle of taking her child along

God if my gym let 11 years olds in I’d find a new gym.

You expect public subsidised gyms to only let certain age groups in just to please you? Your level of entitlement is frankly staggering.

This.

Why is entitled to want to work out in a child-free space? I don’t, so I pay not to. Sheesh.

Why can't public subsided gyms have adult only areas, it seems very entitled to think every space should accomadate children.

“You expect public subsidised gyms to only let certain age groups in just to please you? Your level of entitlement is frankly staggering.”

Not being funny, but I a) never mentioned anything about publicly funded gyms, and b) actually said the opposite, that I would find a different gym if children were suddenly allowed to go to the one I use. I.e. NOT expect them to please me.

the lack of reading comprehension is frankly staggering

Um yes. If that's the rules.

There'd be uproar if a bloke decided just because it's subsidised he's okay to crash at a woman's refuge or casually observe a breastfeeding class.

Just because it's subsidised doesn't mean it's suitable for all and sundry.

What's the big deal? Just ask him to move if he's on a machine you want to use. I really don't see why you'd need to complain. She probably can't get childcare. Mind your own and get on with your own workout.

The last gym I worked in had people who would bring their children in. To be fair the owner was an arsehole who broke every health and safety law going, one of the reasons I left. It was extremely annoying and very off putting to have someone’s little darling bouncing a Swiss ball around when people were trying to do 100kg squats. One of the reasons people go to the gym is to release some tension away from their own lives, not to be annoyed by someone else’s annoying child. Not every space has to bend over backwards to accommodate everyone’s child.

Eh?? Thats bonkers. Pretty much every activity at a leisure centre has an age limit. The gym. Fitness classes. Kids swimming lessons.classes aimed at the elderly. Toddler gym sessions. Soft play. Adult only lane swimming...

So if you did have support from grandparents you'd leave your kids with them while your husband....did what? Sit and home enjoying the peace? Is he unsupportive in other areas of family life?

In answer to your question, I've always worked full time so exercised during my lunch break (running mainly).
At other times since I've been a lone parent I paid for childcare.

What a stupid response.

Eh?? Thats bonkers. Pretty much every activity at a leisure centre has an age limit. The gym. Fitness classes. Kids swimming lessons.classes aimed at the elderly. Toddler gym sessions. Soft play. Adult only lane swimming...

Utter nonsensical response. Adult swimming lessons are available, relevant classes are available for all age groups at different times.

Adult only lane swimming would in fact be every bit as ridiculous as never letting kids into the gym. Leisure centres are supposed to be for all to exercise not to provide ‘adult only space’ for the convenience of one age group ….

We don’t have adult only lane swimming either. It is mainly adults sure, but children teens can go as long as they can swim lengths.

But we're ignoring the rest of the post?

We're okay with adults crashing into soft plays and kids going to over 70s sessions?

Fwiw my publicly funded sports centre has a womens only swimming session. Guess we should expect some entitled men turning up because they pay for the bloody thing why shouldn't they come along.

Except it’s not ridiculous at all, rather it’s common practice for gyms to be adult only, or to only allow children over a certain age in provided they are supervised.

Leisure centres may be there for all, but that doesn’t mean that everything they offer is available for all.

The whole point of the OP is an 11 year old should not be allowed into this speshul adult only space so as to not inconvenience adults. When in most places teens are allowed to use the gym supervised.

Public facilities should be as open as possible to everyone. Simple. There may be some reason for some sessions to be restricted but not all as is being argued for here.

Needlessly banning children from a public gym is wrong for the convenience of adults.

Fwiw my publicly funded sports centre has a womens only swimming session. Guess we should expect some entitled men turning up because they pay for the bloody thing why shouldn't they come along.

Oh seriously 🤣

The equivalent here would be men not allowed in the swimming pool at all, as some women would prefer it that way. Not just for an hour a week.

’in most places’ - where, exactly? Again, it is common for gyms to be adults only, if not the standard. If someone has joined a gym with this as the understanding then it’s hardly entitled for them to want to get the service they paid for.

arguably it’s not ‘needlessly’ banning children either. Gym machines aren’t there to be played with, they’re heavy duty machines that if used incorrectly can result in injury or even death. That’s one of the reasons why upon joining a gym you sign a contract explicitly stating that you understand this.

If it were me I'd be surprised to see them there, and if they were in the way of some apparatus i wanted to use I'd ask them to move, or mum to move them, but I'm not sure I'd complain. I take the safety comments on board but if the child isn't in the way then I'd just crack on and ignore them. Complaining just seems a touch spiteful to me, like you shouldn't bring food to a pub but if I saw a patron eating a mars bar in the corner I wouldn't grass them up.

Hysterical laughing face emoji

You're the one bringing this 'it's publicly funded' bullshit into the argument

Jesus wept. Maybe there's something in the protein shakes around here...